SAUGERTIES, N.Y. -- A Saugerties man was arrested Monday evening for firing a sawed off shotgun towards his girlfriend during a domestic dispute, police said.

Elijah Gray, 46, also known as Michael J. Smith, of 6 Skyline Drive Apartments, apartment 44, Saugerties, was initially charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, in addition to growing marijuana, a violation under public health law. He was arraigned in Saugerties Town Court and sent to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail, police said. Gray lists several other addresses in the Bronx as well as 615 Broadway in Kingston, police said.

Gray's girlfriend, Earline M. Bullock, 37, of 6 Skyline Drive Apartments, was not injured in the incident. She was charged with growing marijuana and was sent to Ulster County Jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Bullock's three children, ages 7, 8, and 13, were in the Skyline Drive Apartments complex at the time of the shooting but were unharmed, according to police.

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Police said they responded to a 911 call from the apartment complex at 8:54 p.m. reporting that someone had been shot. Upon their arrival, police said, numerous renters were outside and most refused to cooperate with police.

The original caller reported to police that he had witnessed Gray discharge the firearm in the apartment. Other occupants confirmed that Gray, while engaged in a domestic dispute, brandished the weapon threatening to kill Bullock and her three children, who were present at the time, police said.

Bullock was attempting to defend herself with a knife when Gray discharged the weapon, witnesses told police. A round penetrated the floor of the second floor apartment and entered a first floor apartment, which was occupied, police said.

A search of the surrounding wooded area recovered the weapon, which had been buried in the ground, approximately 300 decks of heroin and other narcotics, police said. A search of the apartment resulted in the discovery of additional narcotics, currency and an indoor marijuana grow operation which was adjacent to the children's bedroom, police said.

The children were turned over to other family members and Child Protective Services was notified, police said.